Trainer/trainee relationships

So I thought I would take the time to talk about how important your relationship with your trainer is, if you have one. Rachel and I were talking about our relationship today and we both agreed it’s nice that we can have a laugh whilst training. This came about because someone had said to me that my trainer is nice to me for money, not because she likes me. I say why can’t she have both? Yeah, I pay her but that doesn’t mean she has to hate me too!

Rachel is awesome. I love how I can text her with any training related issues at any time of the day and she will reply. It’s even got to the point where I text her about everyday life stuff and generally more than my friends!

I’m a massive pervert, a bit bitchy, and also slightly manic and that makes for a very interesting hour. She is due to be married soon, so can’t join in, but I tell her of all the men (and women) in the gym that I think are hot, I laugh at people’s grunts and I can be just generally silly. The reason I am like this is because I have built this relationship up with her over the past 16 months. I also moan about work and she moans to me. Bare in mind I see this person twice a week which is more than my own family.

So why is this important? Well it motivates me to train. I hardly miss any sessions. In fact I think I’ve cancelled two in all that time, for genuine reasons. If you hate your trainer and don’t have a good relationship then you won’t want to go. It’s a bit like how you enjoyed the classes at school where you liked the teacher. I enjoy going to have a bit of a bitch, to laugh, and yeah sure to train, but to enjoy doing it!

I suppose this is my ode to Ode2fitness

  
So if and when you get a PT, you want someone who is good at what they do, but also someone who you are comfortable and click with!

🧳 UNPACKED

The Relationship That Matters: This was The Gym Era when I realised how crucial the trainer-client relationship is. Someone once said to me that Rachel was only nice for the money, not because she liked me. Why can’t it be both? Yeah, I pay her, but that doesn’t mean she has to hate me!

What Made Rachel Awesome: Could text her with training issues any time – she’d reply. Eventually texted about everyday life stuff more than my actual friends! We built this relationship over 16 months. I saw her twice a week – more than my own family.

The Sessions: I’m a massive pervert, a bit bitchy, and slightly manic – makes for an interesting hour. I’d tell her which gym members I found hot (men and women), laugh at people’s grunts, be generally silly. She’d moan about wedding planning, I’d moan about work. It was brilliant.

Why This Actually Matters: Motivation. I hardly missed sessions – cancelled maybe two in 16 months, for genuine reasons. If you hate your trainer, you won’t go. It’s like school – you enjoyed classes where you liked the teacher.

I went to have a bitch, to laugh, and yeah sure to train – but to enjoy doing it!

Finding Your Person: You want someone who’s good at what they do, but also someone you’re comfortable with and click with. The technical skills matter, but so does the vibe.

Worth Knowing: Don’t stick with a PT you hate just because you’ve paid for sessions. The relationship matters as much as their qualifications. You need someone you’ll actually show up for. If you dread sessions, you’ll cancel. If you enjoy them (even when they’re hard), you’ll keep going.

Trial sessions exist for a reason – use them to find someone you click with, not just someone with the fanciest certifications.